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No. 608,796. Patented Aug. 9, I898. F. P. ROSBACK.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOXVBLANKS.

(Application filed Nov. 27, 1896.)

[4 Sheets Sheet I.

( No Model.)

Patented Aug. 9, I898.

F. P. ROSBACK. MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

(Application filed Nov. 27, 1896.) (No Model.) l4 Sheets-Sheet 2..

No. 608,796. Patented Aug. 9, I898. F. P. RUSBACK.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

(Application filed Nov. 27, 1896.)

(No Model.) l4 Sheets8heet 3.

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No. 608,796. Patented Aug.- 9, I898. F. P. RDSBACK.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

(Application filed Nov. 27. 1898.) (No Model.) l4 Sheets$heet 4.

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No. 608,796. Patented Aug. 9, I898. F. P. ROSBACK.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

(Application filed Nov. 27, 1896.) (No Model.) l4 Sheets-Sheet 5.

No. 608,796. Patented Aug. 9, I898. F. "P. ROSBACK.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

(Application filed Nov. 27, 1896.) (No Model.) 14 Sheets-Sheet 6.

No. 608,796. Patented Aug. 9. I898.

F. P. RUSBACK.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

(Application filed. Nov. 27, 1896.) (No Model.) l4 SheetsSheet 7.

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77662665526 WXKKWM No. 608,796. Patented Aug. 9, I898. F. P. ROSBACK.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

(Application filed Nov. 27. 1896.) (No Model.) l4 Sheets-Sheet B.

N0. 608,796. Patented Aug. 9, I898. F. P. ROSBACK.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

(Application filed Nov. 27. 1896.) (No-Model.) l4 Sheets-Sheet 9.

72 :0 1 Z? Z2? 4 /o v y a 6 W W Zfiww fl; 21, jzmizfi k $1M Mam KIM/1 fl No. 608,796. Patented Aug. 9, I898.

F. P. ROSBACK. MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

(Application filed Nov. 27, 1896) (NUModeL) l4 Sheets-Sheet l0.

No. 608,796. Patented Aug. 9, I898. F. P. ROSBACK.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

(Application filed Nov. 27, 1896.) (No Model.) l4 Sheets-Sheet l2.

M r sin E M m o! 1 k C) 77 yifwea W {K 8W Patented Aug. 9, I898.

F. P. ROSBACK.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

(Application filed Nov. 27, 1896.) (No Model.) I4 Sheets $heet l3 m: Norms PETERS co" nnoTauma, wnsnwm-on, n. 2'

Patented Aug. 9, I898.

l4 Sheets-Sheet l4.

F. P. RUSBACK.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX BLANKS.

(Application filed Nov. 27, 1896.) (No Model.)

was -n ta'r'r FFltJ FREDERICK l. ROSBAOK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM P.

HEALY, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR MAKING BOX-BLANKS.

srncrrrcnrron forming part of Letters Patent No. 608,796, dated August 9, 1898.

Application filed November 27, 1896. Serial No. 613,574. (No model.)

To all whom it nmyiconcerib:

Keit known that LFREDERIOK P. ROSBACK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, inthe county of Cook an'dState of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Making'BoX-Blanks, of.

which the following is a specification.

The box-blank which this machine is adapted to manufacture consists of a sheet of thin lumberin one or more lengths or sections, pro vided on one side at opposite edges and also between the edges, if desired, with longitndi nally-extendingreinforcing-cleats and onthe opposite side" with strengthening-wires, the said wires, sheet, and cleats beingfastened together with staples or the like which straddle the wires and extend through the sheet into the cleats. In the case of a comparatively short boX the intermediatecleat may be dispensed with and an intermediate strength ening-wire provided and fastened in place by means of staples which are clenched on the inner face of the sheet. A box-blank of the latter description is illustrated in the last figures of the drawings. The strengtheningwires extend past opposite ends of the blank, and at the points which are to form corners of a box the cleats and sheet are preferably step-mitered in a machine separate from the present machine. By bending the blank at the cuts four sides of a box are produced, and box ends are afterward fastened against the outer cleats with nails or otherwisexto complete the box. The cover portion of the box may be fastened down by twisting the projecting ends of the strengthening-wires together.

The present invention is in the nature of an improvement upon machines for the same purpose shown and described in United States Patent No. 518,038, granted to Knudtson and Uhri April 10, 1894, and in an application of Jacob Uhri, Serial No. 569,157, filed November 16, 1895.

My object is to produce a machine of a less complicated and expensive construction than those referred to and which, though operating upon the same general principle, shall perform the work of turning out box-blanks more quickly, perfectly, and economically.

.Broadly stated, the machine involves cleatguides relatively adjustable to position the cleats Z for blanks of different widths, guides also adjustable with the eleat-guides for the opposite edges of the sheet Z, tacking or stapling devices above the path of the sheet and cleats adjustable with the cleat-guides, and feed mechanism for a strengthening-wire Z ateach staple device. At the cleat-gui-des is preliminary feed-operatin g mechanism which when the cleats and sheet are placed in their guides may be operated to advance the material to the staple-drivers. The feed mechanism which advances the blank material he neath or across the staple drivers and strengthening-wire feeders is intermittent inits action and alternates with the stapledrivers, so that the material is at rest while the staples are being driven.

The machine further involves mechanism for severing the strengthening-wires when a blank has passed from beneath the stapledrivers and for stopping the machine until material for another blank has been advanced to the staple-drivers.

Lastly, the machine involves skipper mechanism, which at predetermined intervals in the passage of the blank accelerates the feed thereof, so that staples will not be driven at points where the step-miter cuts are afterward to be made.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a broken elevation of the right-hand side of the machine, themain driving-shaft being in section and the main driving-pulley thus removed; Fig. 2, a broken elevation of the left-hand side of the machine; Fig. 3, a broken elevation of the rear end of the machine; Fig. 4, a section taken on line 4 of Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction of the arrow; Fig. 5, an enlarged broken section taken on line 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a broken and enlarged plan section taken on line 6 of Fig. 3; Fig. 7, a broken and enlarged elevation of certain details at the rear end portion of the machine, showin a staple forming and driving device and attendant parts; Fig. 8, a section taken on line 8 of Fig. 7 Fig. 9, a reduced section taken on line 9 of Fig. 8, corresponding with line 9 in Fig. 2; Fig. 10, an enlarged broken elevation of the lower end portion of one of the staple forming and driving'devices, with certain parts removed; Fig. 11, an enlarged detail View of a movable staple-wire cutting and guiding device forming a part of a staple forming and driving device; Fig. 12, a plan section taken on line 12 of Fig. 10, corresponding with line 12 of Fig. 7; Fig. 13, a section taken on line 13 of Fig. 10, come sponding with line 13 in Fig. 7; Fig. 1.4, a View the same as Fig. 12, but showing moving parts in another position; Figs. 15,16, and 17, enlarged, broken, and sectional elevations of the lower end portion of a staple forming and driving device, illustrating three steps in its operation of forming a staple and driving it over a strengthening-wire through a sheet and into a eleat; Fig. 18, a reduced section taken on line 18 of Fig. 10, corresponding with line 18 in Fig. 7; Fig. 19, a section taken on line 19 of Fig. 18; Fig. 20, a broken bottom plan view of the parts shown in Figs. 18 and 19, it being in effect a bottom plan view of any one of the staple forming and driving devices; Fig. 21, a broken elevation of a staple-forming bar, the same being a part of one of the staple forming and driving devices; Fig. 22, a broken View, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of the bar shown in Fig. 21; Figs. 23 and 24:,broken elevations of a staple-driving bar which moves in guides on the bar shown in Figs. 21 and 22 to drive the staples after they have been formed; Fig. 25, an enlarged broken elevation showing the intermittent feed and skipper mechanisms, the same parts being shown 011 a reduced scale in Fig. 2; Fig. 20, a broken section taken on line 26 of Fig Fig. 27, a section taken on line 27 of Fig. 6, with a portion of the cleat-guidc-supportin g barbroken away to expose details which -would otherwise be hidden; Fig. 28, a section on line 28 of Fig. 27; Fig. 29, an enlarged section of the left-hand cleat-guide bar shown in Fig. 6, the section being upon line 29 in Fig. 28 and enlarged, a sheet and cleat being in position; Fig. 30, a broken elevation of one of the an- Vils beneath a staple forming and driving device; Fig. 31, a broken section on line 31 of Fig. 30; Fig. 32, a top end or plan View of a clencher-bar shown in Fig. 31; Figs. 33 and 34, broken and reduced sections taken on line of Fig. 6 and illustrating certain details of construction of the feed mechanism and cleatguides; Figs. 35 and 36, a plan view and a side elevation, respectively, of a completed blank, showing by dotted lines the step-miter cuts; and Fig. 37, a section taken on line 37 of Fig. In each instance the section is taken in the direction of the arrow at the sec tion-line in the figure referred to.

A is the main frame of the machine, comprising for the most part two parallel horizontally-extending side bars A A mounted at their forward ends upon legs A A an end bar A, extending between the side bars at the rear end of the machine; checks or side frames A A secured against and supporting the rear end portions of the side bars; crossbars A in the positions indicated in Fig. 2; a tie-rod A toward the top of the cheeks; a cross-bar A fastened at opposite ends to the cheeks, and a cross-bar A below and parallel with the bar A Passing through and journaled toward 0pposite end portions in the legs A A is a driveshaft 13, provided beyond the leg A with a belt-pulley B and beyond the leg A with a friction drum or pulley B 0 is what may be termed the main drive-shaft of the machine, journaled toward opposite ends in the tops of the cheeks A A and D is a third independent drive-shaft, also journaled toward opposite ends in the cheeks.

Loosely mounted upon the shaft 0 is a large belt-pulley 0, provided at the shaft with a clutch member, the shaft being provided with a companion clutch member, which when thrown into engagement with the clutch member on the pulley causes the shaft to be rotated by the pulley. The pulley O is belted to a suitable line-shaft or other driving power and rotates constantly. Any suitable clutch may be employed in this connection, and as the one I use is of a common construction I have not encumbered the drawings with detail Views thereof. It will suffice to say that on one of the clutch members is a spring push-pin 00, which when pressed in the inward direction against the resistance of its spring releases the clutch members, so that the pulley rotates upon the shaft, and which when released springs outward and produces engagement between the clutch members, whereby the shaft rotates with the pulley.

The clu tell-operating mechanism com prises a rock-shaft E, journaled at opposite ends in the cheeks and carrying beyond the cheek A an arm or lever E, which is raised at its free end by the rocking of the shaft E in one direction to extend into the path of the pin 00 and compress the same to release the clutch members and which is swung downward by the rocking of the shaft in the opposite direction to release the pin and permit the clutch members to engage. On the opposite end of the rock-shaft E beyond the cheek A is an arm or crank E to which a vertical rodE is pivotally connected at its upper end.

Rigidlysecured to and extending from the rear end portion of the side bar A is an arm or pin E (most plainly shown in Figs. 3 and (3,) provided toward its free end with a guideopening, through which the rod E passes. Connected with the lower end of the rod F." is a spring E, which at its opposite end is fastened to a pin extending from the check A as shown, for example, in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 25, the spring operating normally to draw the rod in the downward direction and press the arm E" into the path of the pin 00. Above the guide E the rod E is provided with a notch 25, (see Figs. 2, 3, and 25,) and at its lower end the rod is pivotally connected to an arm of a bell-crank lever E the lever be the cheek A ing fulcrumed upon a pin '15, extending from The other arm of the bellcrank lever E is pivotally connected with a rod E, which at its opposite end connects with an arm of a bell-crank lever E fulcrnmed upon a bracket fastened to the floor. The other arm of the bell-crank lever E is shaped to form a treadle 25 Fulcrumed upon the end of the pin or guide E is a lever E", provided at its upper end with a laterallydnclined notch-engaging point 75 (see, for example, Figs. 3, 6, and 25,) a fingerspring '6 fastened to the guide E operating to press the lever E at its end t normally into the path of the notch t on the rod E 011 the lower end portion of the lever E is a laterally-projecting pin 25 E is a lever fulcrumed between its ends upon the pin t and provided at its upper end with a slot '6 (see Fig. 25,) at which it engages the pin i. Acoiled spring-E connects at one end with the lever E and is fastened at its opposite end against the cheek A The tendency of the spring E is to draw the lever E at its lower end in the backward direction. Pivot/ally connected with the lower end of the lever E is a forwardly-extending rod E which at its opposite end connects with one arm of a bellcrank lever E fulcrumed upon a bracket 15 on the floor. The

other arm of the bell-crank lever E is shaped to afford a treadle t".

It will be understood from the foregoing description that downward pressure upon the treadle t causes the rod E to be thrust upward against the resistance of the spring and rock the shaft E to swing the arm E downward out of the path of the pin 00, thereby releasing the latter and causing the clutch members to engage and the pulley O to rotate the shaft 0. hen the rod E is raised, as described, its notch is engaged by the pointed end Z" of the lever E, and thus held in its raised position to maintain the arm E out of the path of the pin a2. WVhen at any time it is desired to stop the rotation of the shaft 0, the treadle 11" is pressed downward, causing the lever E to be swung against the resistance of the spring E and to swing the lever E against the resistance of the spring 7 and release it from the notch '15, whereby the rod E is released and drawn downward by its spring to raise the arm E into the path of the pin Thus when in the rotation of the shaft 0 the pin at strikes the arm E it is depressed and disengages the clutchmembers. The clutch, it will be noted, always causes a stoppage of the shaft 0 at the same point in its rotation, the object of which will appear later on.

In the cheeks A A are coincident vertical guide-openings 00'. (See Figs. 1 and 2.) On the shaft 0 just beyond the cheeks AA are companion eccentrics C C Also upon the shaft just within the checks are companion eccentrics O 0 F is a vertically-movable operating-bar or cleat-guides H.

cross-head extending at opposite ends through and sliding in the guide-slots as, beyond which they are connected, by means of conmeeting-rods F F, with the eccentrics 0 G is a vertically-movable operating-bar or cross-head, also sliding at opposite ends in the guide-slots 0c of the cheeks and connected,

by means of connecting-rods G, with the ec-- centri'cs The eccentrics are so adjusted upon the shaft with relation to each other that the eccentrics 0 move about one-fourth of a revolution in advance of the eccentrics C The cross-heads F G actuate the staple forming and driving devices, hereinafter described, and the cross-head F actuates the intermittent feed mechanism, as will be explained later on.

Resting upon the cross-bars A near the side bar A (seeFig. 27) is a sheet and cleat guide H, which may be stationary. Also restingupon the cross-bars A and extending parallel with the guide H are one or more Each of the said guides is provided with bolts 5, having heads which fit and slide in T-shaped sockets 11 in the cross-bars. (See Figs. 6, 27, 28, and 29.) The guides 11 are laterally adjustable upon the bars A? to accommodate sheets of veneer of different widths for boxes of different sizes and to position the cleats as desired.

Extending parallel with the bars A and journaled at opposite ends in the side bars A A are similarly constructed worm-shafts 1, provided beyond the side bar A with sprocketwheels I, geared together by means of a drivechain 1 (See Fig. 1.) On the forward worm shaft is a hand-wheel 1 by means of which the said shaft may be turned in either direction and through the drive-chain I produce corresponding rotation of the other wormshaft. Each guide-bar II, and the guide H also, if desired, is provided at each of the Worm-shafts with a pivotal lever or dog I. (See Figs. 5, 33, and 3st.) The figures show the dogs raised out of engagement with the worm-shafts I, they being held in their raised positions by spring-catches 1 To adjust either of the guide-bars laterally, its dogs I ma be )ressed downward into en a ement y l n n I, which prevent rise of the dogs, after which the worm-shafts are rotated by means of the hand-wheel I to move the guide-bar laterally and equally throughout its extent. When the adjustment is made, the dogs may be returned to the positions shown.

Each of the guides is formed of a bars, L-shaped in cross-section, and through which the bolts 3 pass, as shown. Fastened against the bar 8 is a shelf or bearing-strip 5 provided at intervals with fingers 3", carrying leaf-springs s, which project over the strip .9 in the direction of the bar 3.

On the guide II and forming, if desired, a permanent part thereof are vertical plates 5 (see Fig. 27,) carrying a horizontal strip 5,

ITO

ITS

which projects over the bearing-strip s and bar 3', leaving an open space 8 to receive and guide one edge of the sheet Z, as hereinafter described. The guide H operates to position one edge cleat Z and the adjacent edge of the sheet Z.

Adj ustably fastened against the guide H, which is to operate as the guide for the other outer cleat and edge of the sheet, are plates 5 carrying a horizontal laterally-projecting strip 3, which extends over the strip 5 and tends to hold down and guide the edge of the sheet. The plates 5 may be attached to any one of the guides H by means of thumbscrews 3 as shown. To place a sheet Z and cleats Z in position, the cleats are passed from the front end of the machine into the guides beneath the strips 8 s and between the spring-fingers s and bars, and the sheet Z is also passed under the strips 3 s, as indicated.

For convenience in handling the sheets a table or sheet-supporting frame is pro-.

vided upon the forward end of the machine, as shown, and the strips 5 s extend from the rear end of the guides forward to a point somewhat in advance of the said support or table. The plates 3 s are formed, preferably, of thin springy material, whereby the strips 5- s will yield slightly under any unevenness at the edges of the sheet to prevent binding of the latter as it passes through.

K is a shaft journaled at opposite ends in the legs A A and K is a companion shaft thereto, journaled at opposite ends in the cheeks A A the shafts being in the same horizontal plane and in the relative positions shown. Each of said shafts is provided with a longitudinally-ext-ending groove '1", as shown at the shaft K in Fig. 5.

Each of the guides H H is provided on its rear end at the under side with a pair of brackets H having openings 1", at which they loosely surround the shaft K. Confined between each pair of brackets 11 is a belt or sprocket wheel H provided with a feather to slide in the groove 1' and cause the sprocket wheel to rotate with the shaft. The forward end of each guide H H is also provided at the under side with a pair of brackets having openings, like the openings 1", loosely surrounding the shaft K. Between each pair of the latter brackets is a belt or sprocket wheel H feathered upon the shaft to rotate therewith.

No special detail view is given of the brackets at the forward ends of the guides for the reason that they are mere duplications of the brackets H and operate,like the latter, to loosely embrace the sprocket-wheels and slide the latter laterally upon the shaft as the guides are adjusted to position the cleats Z, as before described. The tops of the sprocketwheels H H are just beyond opposite ends of the shelves or guide-strips s and in the plane of the latter. It will be understood that there is a sprocket-wheel H at one end of each of the guides H H and a sprocketwheel H at the opposite end thereof, the sprocket-wheels being adjustable with the guides, so as always to maintain the same position with relation thereto.

Extending over each sprocket-wheel H and its companion sprocket-wheel H is a flexible feed-belt, preferably in the form of a chain H which on the upper side rests and slides upon the guide-strip .9 Each feed-chain is provided at stated intervals (in the present machine nine feet apart) with stops or cleat and sheet engaging projections H, they being on the outer side of the chain to project upward as the chains pass from the sprocketwheels H to the sprocket-wheels H over the guide-strips 3 On the under side of each guide, in the position indicated, for example, in Fig. 2, is a chain-tightener H of common construction. The projections H of the respective chains are exactly parallel with each other, so that they travel abreast.

On the shaft K beyond the leg A is a friction-pulley K adapted to engage with the friction pulley or drum B At the pulley B the shaft B is journaled in a vertically-sliding block or plate B (see Fig. 2,) which has vertically-elongated slots, as shown, and is secured at said slots by means of bolts to the leg. A toggle-lever B is pivoted at its lower end against the leg A and its upper end to the plate or journal-block B Connected with the middle of the toggle-lever is a toggle-operating rod B extending to an operating-lever B fulcrumed near its lower end upon a bracket 13 on the floor. It will be understood that the pulley B is belted to a line-shaft and rotates the shaft 13 constantly. Movement of the lever B to the left in Fig. 2 causes it to draw upon the rod B and straighten the toggle B to raise the block B friction-pulley B and that end of the shaft 13, so that the pulley B will engage the pulley K and rotate the shaft K and its sprocketwheels and move the feed-chains H thereby rotating the sprocket-wheels H and shaft K. WVhen a sheet Z and cleats Z are first placed in position,the lever B is moved,as described, to feed the material rapidly and without pause to the point where they are first operated upon by the staple forming and driving devices, and this preliminary feed is independent of the intermittent feeding mechanism before referred to and hereinafter to be described.

On the shaft K beyond the cheek A is a gear-wheel K (See Figs. 2, 4, 6, and 25.) Passing through the cheek A and fastened therein is a bearingpin L, threaded along its outer end portion, as most plainly shown in Fig. 26. Mounted upon the bearing-pin at the outer side of the cheek A is a gear-wheel L, having a bearing-sleeve L which extends nearly to the outer end of the pin and is held against lateral play by a nut 3 Tlie gearwheel L engages the gear K Fulcrumed ICC at q upon the cheek A is a lever L provided withalongitudinally-extendingslotq. Aconnecting-rod L is pivotallyseeured at its lower end to the adjacent end of the cross-head G, (see Figs. 2 and 3,) and at its upper end it is pivotally connected with the lever L between the ends of the latter.

Fastened upon the sleeve L with a key g or otherwise is a comparatively large ratchetwheel L whichis thus in rigid relation to the gear-wheel L. Between the said ratchetwheel and gear-wheel is a lever Ii, having a bearing-sleeve g (see Fig. 26,) whichloosely surrounds the bearing-sleeve L an d carrying at its free end a pivotal dog L", which rides upon the teeth of the ratchet-wheel L.

L is a connecting-rod ad j ustably and pivotally fastened in its upper end in the slot q of the lever L near the fulcrum q. At its lower end the rod L is pivotally connected with the free end of the lever L. In the vertical reciprocation of the crosshead G the connecting-rod L swings the leverL up and down upon its fulcrum q and reciprocates the rod I) to swing the lever L. In each downward plunge the dog L engages and turns the ratchet-wheel L and in each upward plunge releases the ratchet-wheel, whereby the latter, the gear-wheel L, gear-wheel'K and shaft K are rotated intermittingly to turn the sprocket-wheels H and give to the feedchains II a corresponding intermittent movement.

As will appear later on, when a blank has been completed and its strengthening-wires cut the machine is stopped by bringing about a disengagement between the clutch members on the drive-shaft O. WVhen the sheet and cleats have been advanced by the preliminary feed, as before described, to the staple forming and driving devices, it is necessary that the preliminary feed be stopped and that the material be afterward advanced by the intermittent feeding mechanism,which is operated, as described, from the shaft 0, which also operates the stapledrivers.

The mechanism for automatically stopping the preliminary feed mechanism will be next described. Pivotally connected with the lower end of the lever B below the fulcrum of the latter, is a rod B which extends in the backward direction and connects with one arm of a bell-crank lever I3 fulcrumed on a bracket B on the floor. Extending upward from the other arm of the bell-crank lever is a rod 13, (see more especially Figs. 5, 33, and 34,.) moving at its upper end loosely through aguidep on abracketp',carried by the bracket ll of the guide II. The upper end portion of the rod 13 is provided with notches p Fulcru med upon the bracket H of the guide II is a tripping-lever B provided at its lower end with a hook 12 A spring 19 bearing against the tripping-lever, presses the latter at its hooked end normally into the path of the notches p on the rod 13. At its upper end the tripping-lever is rounded, as shown,

to produce a cam which extends normally into the path of a passing sheet Z, whereby when the edge of the sheet strikes the trippinglever the latter is turned from the position shown in Fig. 33 to that shown in Fig. 34:. VVhen the operating-lever B is turned to the left in Fig. 2 to start the preliminary feed, the rod B is drawn to raise the rod 13 and cause the tripping-lever B to engage a notch p thereby holding the rod B raised and the friction-drum B in engagement with the friction-pulley K As soon as the sheet Z strikes the tripping-lever B the latter releases the notch 12 and causes the rod B to drop to the position shown in Fig. Sat and the frictiondrum B to descend out of engagement with the pulley K whereby the preliminary feed mechanism stops, leaving the sheet and cleats in position to be operated upon by the stapledrivers.

In the rear face of the stationary bar A is a longitudinally-extending 'T-groove n, and in the rear faces of the cross-heads F G are longitudinally-extending grooves 12 n re spectively.

M M are tacking devices or staple form ing and driving devices, one being provided for each guide H II. The devices M are all constructed alike, so that the description of.

one will answer for all. The shell of each staple forming and driving device comprises a block or back plate M and a removable cap or covering plate M the said plates forming between them a vertical guide-opening m.

M is a staple-for1ning bar having a vertical guidegroove Z Z. This bar is shown in detail in Figs. 21 and 22. The lower part Z of the guidegroove is narrower than the upper part Z thereof and is T-shaped in crosssection, as indicated by the full and dotted lines. 011 the upper end portion of the bar M is a projection or shoulder l and between the ends of the bar is a cam projection Z 011 the bar in the position shown is a laterallyextending projection Z M is a staple-driving bar provided at its upper end with a projecting shoulder and an enlarged bodyportion affording a bearing-face 7a. The lower end portion 70 of the driving-bar is T-shaped in cross-section and provided in its lower end with a concave socket 70 (See Figs. 23 and 24.) Although the bar, as shown, is formed of two pieces fastened together with screws 71: this construction is not essential, as the parts may be formed integral with each other. The upper or enlarged part of the drivingbar M fits and slides in the guide-groove lot the bar M and the T-shaped portionk of the bar M fits and slides in the T-groove Z of the bar M I11 practice the back plate M of the shell is adjustably fastened against the stationary bar A by means of a bolt a having a T-h ead which fits the T-groove a. (See Fig. 8.) Projecting from the back plate M is a horizontally-extendin g lug of, which also fits into the groove n. The shell may be adjusted laterally upon the bar A and tightened in adjusted position by means of the bolt a The said bolt and lug n operate together to hold theshell rigidly against vertical or lateral play. The forming-barlll along its lower end portion fits and works in the guide-opening m of the shell, the shoulder l at the upper endof said bar extending loosely into the groove 17, of the cross-head G. The shoulder 75 on the driver M fits snugly in the groove nof the cross-head F. The parts are so geared with relation to each other that in the rotation of the drive-shaft O the cross-head G is moved downward until the top of-its groove 12 strikes the shoulder 1 of the bar M forcing the latter downward to form the sta-' ple, as hereinafter described, and then the cross head F descends to force the drivingbar M downward, whereby its end will engage and discharge or drive the staple.

In the face of the back plate M, in the positions shown, for example, in Figs. 10 and 12, is a socket on, into which fits a plunger or staple-forming block M provided in its side with a guide-recess m terminating in a shoulder m Passing through the edge port-ion'of the plate mand extending into the guide-recess m is a screw in", affording a stop which limits the outward plunge of the block M Confined in the socket m and bearing against the block M is a spring or, which tends to press the block in the outer direction until its shoulder m strikes the stop m. On the outer end of the block are two projections or claws m m separated bya guide passage or groove m The lower projection m is provided with a rounded upper edge m", affording a mandrel over which the staple is bent, as presently described,and the upper side of the projection m is inclined or beveled to produce a cam m Fastened against the back plate M is a horizontal guide-frame M. Mounted in a recess afforded by guides m m on the back plate (see Fig. 10) is a horizontally-adjustable sliding cutter-block m which maybe moved by means of an adjusting-screw m which passes through the back plate above the socket m, as shown. Extending through the block m in the manner most plainly shown in Fig. 12 is a guideopening on for a wire Y, from which the staples Y are formed. The opening or passage on is in line with the guide-opening m between the claws m m Sliding between vertical guide-projections m m on the back plate-M (see Fig. 7) is a block or plate M (shown in detail in Fig. 11,) carrying a knife M provided with a cutting edge M. A yielding block '5 is pivotally fastened by means of a screw t" against the under side of the block M Extending through the block 2' is a vertical and elongated slot i through which passes a' screw 1' into the lower end of the block M". The block 1' is provided in its face with agradually widening and deepening guide-groove t 'for the wire Y, (see Figs. 11., 12-, 13, and 14,) and a finger-spring-t' on the block M bears against the block 2' to press it normally against the face of the block 777/ 011 the end of the block 71 is anadjustable set screw 71 in position to strike against the lower end of the guide m when the block M is raised. Projecting from the plate or block M is a bolt 2, having a threaded opening through it for a tensioning-screw 2' (see Fig. 13,) to which is attached a spring i fastened at its upper end to a pin on the back plate M. The lower end of the tensioning-screw r affords a stop for the project-ion Z 011 the forming-bar M". The spring i tends normally to raise the block M until the set-screw i engages the lower end of the guide-piece m. J ournaled in the up per end of the block M is an Ll1tlfIlCtlOl1- wheel 1'". M is a pivotal cam-block having a cam-surface i and a cam projection 2'. A spring 1' bears against the block M to press the cam-surface t against the antifrictionwheel 1'" and cause the cam projection i to extend normally into the path of the cam projection Z on the side of the forming-bar M In the forward face of the stationary cross-bar A on the side opposite the groove n, is a guide-groove hfsliding in which is a longitudinally-extending bar M T-shaped in cross-section, as shown, for example, in Figs. 8 and 18. M (see Figs. 4 and 9) are elongated slots 7L, through which pass screws 7L2, fastened in the bar A These screws hold the bar M against the stationary bar A but permit it to slide longitudinally for a distance limited by the ends of the slots. M is a swinging plate or lever (see, for example, Fig. 9) pivoted at its to the cross-head F. Between its ends the lever M is provided with a cam-slot h, and in its lower end it has a recess or socket h. On the stationary bar A is a vertically-pro jeeting lug 77., carrying a screw or pin 7L7, which passes through the cam-slot 7L in the lever M At its recess or socket its the lever loosely embraces a pin or screw h on the bar M. In the rise andfall of the cross-head F the lever M rises and falls, the engagement of its cam-slot with the pin or screw 71, cans ing it to oscillate on its pivot 7L3 and reciprocate the bar M longitudinally. Adj ustably fastened to the bar M are blocks or heads its, in pairs, each provided with a downwardextending pin it On each frame M (see, for example, Fig. 7) is a swinging wire'engaging dog h which permits the Wire Y to be drawn in the direction to the right in that figure and prevents its being drawn to the left. Mounted to slide in each frame M is a block h carrying a swinging dog or wire-gripper which grips the wire and moves it when the block is moved to the right in Fig. 7 and rcleases the wire when the block is moved to the left in that figure. On the side of the block 78 opposite that at which it carries the dog is a lug h. The lug h projects between a pair of pins 71. the latter being so adjusted that one strikes the lug 7H and moves the block it when the bar M is moved in one Toward each end of the bar 

